Niamey, Niger: The first national volunteers in Niger have been selected and will soon be fielded as part of the 'Volunteers for National Development' project launched by the Government of Niger with support from UNV. Read

Geneva, Switzerland: "The United Nations Volunteers programme is inspired by the conviction that volunteerism has the potential to transform the pace and nature of development… This enormous potential of volunteerism should be an inspiration to us all," said UNV Executive Coordinator Flavia Pansieri today at her first address to the UNDP Executive Board after taking office in February. Read

Managua, Nicaragua: UNV volunteers are helping to reduce food insecurity for Nicaragua's most vulnerable families by strengthening local governance. The ultimate goal is to ensure food security projects are integrated into all short- and long-term local planning. Read

Aden, Yemen: With 20,000 new mouths to feed this year alone, one UNV volunteer working with the World Food Programme (WFP) in Yemen plays a vital part in managing a little-reported emergency. Read

Quito, Ecuador: Since 2006, UNV has been cooperating with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Ecuador on teaching English to displaced people. The project mobilizes local volunteers who help refugees prepare for life in English-speaking destinations. Read

Lome, Togo: The UN recently met in Rome  to discuss the global food crisis, and the World Bank has allocated funding for six countries in particular distress. One of these is Togo, where a UNV volunteer has helped launch an impromptu programme to meet immediate needs. Read

Beijing, China: UNV, the Beijing Youth League, the China Red Cross and MSI have joined forces with people living with HIV to train Olympic volunteers on HIV prevention and anti-discrimination. Read

Tashkent, Uzbekistan: A UNV volunteer nutrition specialist from Djibouti is helping the Government of Uzbekistan to develop better ways of preventing malnourishment and ill-health among mothers and children. Read

Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina: Policy makers and senior officials this week praised a UNV programme designed to foster regional integration, social cohesion and poverty reduction in the Balkans. Read

Bonn, Germany: Peace and development are inexorably linked and volunteerism can significantly contribute to both, said Donna Keher, Chief of the UNV Partnerships and Communications Group, at the 2008 Academic Council on the United Nations System (ACUNS) today. Read